Winter's Daughter

Chapter Four

"Do you have to leave, Dada?" Rebecca asks Bucky while she sits on his bed. Bucky is doing some last-minute packing before he leaves on the mission. It pains Bucky to leave Rebecca, but this is his job.

"Yes, starlight. I do," Bucky sighs. "You know I won't leave if I had the choice. I want to make sure the world we live in is safe for you."

"But you can do that from here," Rebecca complains.

Bucky smiles sadly at the child as he kneels in front of her. "I know, starlight, but I still have to go. Your Uncle Steve will take good care of you. I may even convince him to let you have a play date with that boy Killian. You seem to get along with him."

"Ok, dada. I still don't want you to go," Rebecca says. "I have a bad feeling."

"I'll be alright, Rebecca," Bucky insists. "I'll have Uncle Clint, Auntie Nat, Wanda, and Sam with me. Steve will keep you safe and protected until I get back."

Rebecca nods and hugs her father. Rebecca has never enjoyed her father leaving her. She is always taken back to the first time Bucky left to be put under. She had lost another entire year with her father. Rebecca knew her father's good intentions, but she still worries that he's not going to come back every time he leaves.

"I'll be back in a week, starlight. It'll feel like no time had passed at all," Bucky whispers.

"I love you, dada," Rebecca whispers back.

"I love you too, starlight," Bucky smiles. "Now come on. Uncle Steve is at the compound waiting for us."

╚»★«╝ Time Skip ╚»★«╝

That Monday when Steve went to pick Rebecca up from preschool, he notices Killian and Rebecca playing, what appeared to be, a very intense game of tag. You were nowhere in sight. Steve let the kids play for a few minutes. Rebecca is the first to notice the blond man and runs up to her uncle with a huge smile. Killian is quick to follow. Steve kneels as both kids hug him.

"Hi, Uncle Stevie!" Rebecca greets.

"Hi, Captain Rogers!" Killian smiles.

"Hey, kiddos," Steve greets. "Hey, Killian. Where's your mother? Is she coming to get you?"

"No. Auntie Rogue and Uncle Bobby are picking me up!" Killian exclaims.

"Oh, really? Do you know where they are?" Steve asks.

"Killian!" A woman shouts.

The three turn to the sound and see it came from a woman with white streaks in the front of her hair. She is dressed in a black t-shirt and jeans with a green jacket. She wears a pair of black leather gloves with matching black leather shoes. Next to her is a man dressed in a white shirt, a black jacket, blue jeans, and sneakers. Killian smiles at the pair and runs to them.

"Auntie Rogue! Uncle Bobby!" Killian yells.

Killian jumps into the man's arms and the woman pushes a strand of blond hair from the boy's face. Killian giggles and hugs the man. Steve takes note of how cautious the woman seems at making contact with the boy. It was almost as if she was scared of hurting him the same way Bucky was about letting Rebecca near his metal arm. After Steve stands, Rebecca grabs his arm as she drags him over to Killian and his aunt and uncle. When the woman notices Steve and Rebecca approaching, she tenses up a little. Bobby sets Killian down when Steve and Rebecca are near.

"Hi, I'm Rebecca. This is my Uncle Steve," Rebecca introduces.

"Hi, Rebecca. I'm Bobby. This is my wife, Rogue. It's so nice to meet you," the man smiles as he gingerly shakes the girl's hand.